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Through photography, The Molly Project brings comfort to CNY families affected by cancer

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John Greer sits by a framed group of photos made of his wife Mary Greer as part of the Molly Project before her death from pancreatic cancer. These photos show her with John and the family. The Molly Project is a non-profit organization in Central New York that coordinates free, on-location photography sessions for women whose lives are being redefined by cancer or terminal disease.

Liverpool, NY -- John Greer will always have a way to remember his wife just as she was.

Last summer, Greer and his family -- wife Mary, and sons Rob, Lucas and Max -- had family portraits taken as a way to eternalize his wife, who was struggling with stage-four pancreatic cancer that spread throughout her body. She died Oct. 10.

"She wanted us to have memories of her," said Greer, 48, of Liverpool. "She wanted to make sure that we had something to remember her by."

The Greers had their photos taken through a non-profit organization called The Molly Project, which was started one year ago by Kristin Atkinson, 40, of Cicero, Kristin Johnston, 35, of Cicero, and Tara Polcaro, 39, of North Syracuse.

Named after Atkinson's late mother who died 23 years ago from lung cancer, The Molly Project provides free, at-home photography sessions to women affected by terminal illness. Whether the woman is a caretaker of someone battling cancer, or she is sick herself, The Molly Project seeks to provide families with photos they can remember their loved ones by.

Atkinson said after her mom died, her family struggled to find pictures of her.

"Like in many families, she was the family photographer, the memory-keeper in the family," Atkinson said. "We have albums of the dog, every holiday, prom, but she's not in very many of them. We only have about 10 to 15 pictures with her in the picture."

The three women work together on the project, each bringing a different set of skills to the table. Johnston brings her background in crisis counseling. She answers phone calls, emails and Facebook messages. Atkinson also brings her background in communications, while Polcaro spends time with and photographs the families.

Here is some of their work:

For Atkinson, the organization is a way to honor her mother.

"It's taken 23 years. I've always wanted to do something in memory of her," she said, wiping tears from her eyes. "This has provided a way I can do that."

The point of The Molly Project is to provide comfort to families through photography.

"We want them to make sure they get themselves in the picture. Make sure you have some pictures of yourself with your friends, with your loved ones," Atkinson said.

What makes their organization different than any other in the area is the focus on women's experiences, said co-organizer Johnston.

"We do photograph men and children too, but our focus is on the woman that is in their lives," she said. "So, if a man is battling colon cancer, we want to photograph him, but we want to photograph him with that woman that has stepped up to the plate and is by his side."

The photo sessions themselves are very intimate. They're usually done at the woman's house, though photographer Polcaro said she'll go wherever the family wants. The most important thing, she said, is that everyone feels comfortable.

"It's very, very low-key and relaxed," she said. "And fun, I try to keep everybody in good spirits."

An average photo session lasts about an hour.

Polcaro, who is a professional photographer, said this is her most meaningful work.

"Even if it helps someone in just the smallest way, it makes me feel that the talent that I have in photography is a gift to someone else. And in turn, the people that trust me to come in are a huge gift to me."

One thing that sticks out about The Molly Project photos is the natural, candid feel of them.

"We're really trying to capture the emotions and the bonds of the family; the little, tiny things we take for granted -- cuddling on the couch in front of a movie or laughing or sitting at the kitchen table having dinner together," Polcaro said.

For the Greer family, The Molly Project has done much more than provide family portraits.

Rob Greer, 22, said he is grateful for the photos of his mom because naturally and accurately reflect her loving personality.

"It's nice to have something that I can remember her by, and not just remember her, but remember who she was and how much she cared about this family," he said.

And for John Greer, the pictures are something he'll be able to show his grandchildren one day. They're a little piece of Mary he'll always have to cherish.

"My wife was a very unselfish person," he said. "She did it for us."

Anyone interested in The Molly Project's services can contact Atkinson, Johnston and Polcaro at 698-1925, mollyproject1@yahoo.com or on Facebook. Donations and volunteer photographers are welcomed.